Mumbai: The high-stakes battle for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has signalled the end of Thackerays’ reign after two-and-a-half decades.
The BJP-Shinde Sena combine won the BMC elections, surpassing the majority mark. However, no party has a majority on its own.
Consequently, resort politics is back in Mumbai.
Sensing that his party could be the kingmaker, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has asked its newly-elected corporators to assemble at Taj Lands End, a five-star hotel in Mumbai.
As the Mahayuti alliance prepares to take control of the country’s richest civic body, there is a
possibility of horse-trading and defections.
The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, followed by Uddhav’s Shiv Sena (UBT) with 65 seats, Shinde-led Sena with 29 while the Congress won 24.
The halfway mark for majority in the 227-member BMC is 114, and the Opposition could reach that figure by ‘buying’ corporators.
With 89 seats for Sena UBT and Congress combined, plus 6 for Raj Thackeray’s MNS, 8 for AIMIM, 2 for SP and 1 for NCP (SP), they would need 8 more for attaining majority.
Hence, there could be intense bargaining over who rules BMC if the entire Opposition unites to prevent the BJP-led alliance from taking control.
Besides stopping its 29 corporators from switching parties, Eknath Shinde’s ‘resort strategy’ is also being seen to boost his bargaining power with the BJP. According to sources, the Shinde Shiv is eyeing the BMC mayor’s post despite being a junior partner in the alliance.
There is reportedly pressure on Eknath Shinde from within his party to ensure the mayor’s post.